Abdullah bin Zayed meets New Zealand Foreign Minister, co-chairs joint committee meeting

AUCKLAND, 20th March 2016 (WAM) - H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation met on Friday with Murray Stuart McCully, New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs and discussed with him bilateral relations and ways to enhance them in political, economic, commercial and investment fields. Sheikh Abdullah and McCully also explored the opportunities for viable and mutually beneficial partnerships. they reviewed regional and international developments and exchanged views on issues of mutual interest. Sheikh Abdullah said that his visit came within the UAE's endeavours to explore new horizons for cooperation and bilateral relations with New Zealand. New Zealand Foreign Minister welcomed Sheikh Abdullah and his accompanying delegation and expressed his country's keenness to develop bilateral ties with the UAE in the different fields, building on the latter's reputation, strategic location and the tremendous progress witnessed in all domains. He further said that Sheikh Abdullah's visit was poised to drive the ties of friendship and cooperation between the two countries. Earlier, Sheikh Abdullah and McCully co-chaired the first UAE-New Zealand joint committee meeting. Sheikh Abdullah addressed the meeting and thanked McCully and New Zealand's representatives for the warm hospitality. he also expressed pleasure at heading UAE's side in the first meeting of the committee. He praised the historic cordial relations between the two countries, which are built on mutual respect and keenness to increase cooperation to meet aspirations of their leaderships. he also stressed the importance of developing cooperation in the fields of food security, tourism, health and education. McCully welcomed Sheikh Abdullah and his accompanying delegation and applauded the progressive ties between the two countries. He also expressed delight at the launching of the milestone non-stop route between the UAE and New Zealand by the Emirates Airlines. At the end of the meeting, Sheikh Abdullah and McCully signed the minutes of the committee's first meeting and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on political consultations. They also witnessed signing of an MoU on health and safety procedures for agricultural and food material trade, a n MoU on establishing the UAE-New Zealand Business Council and an MoU on improving business and investment opportunities between the Chambers of commerce and industry in the two countries. Sheikh Abdullah attended a luncheon hosted in his honour by the New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC) organised, in coordination with the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, several meetings for the UAE delegation members, with their counterparts in the different sectors, including a meeting of the Food Security Investment Fund, which was attended by representatives of MoFAIC, Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology and other public and private organisations. the meeting discussed the Fund's mechanism for operation and governance and reviewed existing experiences, as well as available investment opportunities. The two sides also examined challenges and possible solutions in the areas of meat, livestock, agriculture, fisheries and poultry, while reviewing the legislative frameworks for livestock sectors, land ownership and exports. The meeting was attended by representatives from the Emirates Future Company, Emirates Foodstuff Company and a number of New Zealand companies. The New Zealand companies expressed interest in cooperation with the UAE in the fields of investment, distribution and re-export of New Zealand products to the Middle East. The Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development and twofour54 took part in the culture and information meeting which discussed ways to increase cultural cooperation. the UAE delegation visited Weta Fil Studios and the Museum of Te Papa in Wellington. The Ministry of Infrastructure Development participated in a meeting with Opus NZ Company to discuss issues of sustainability, green buildings, road projects and smart cities. The UAE Central Bank representatives met with the counterparts in the Reserve Bank of New Zealand and discussed with them cooperation in bank control, exchange of information and of expertise in financial sectors. Representatives of the National Qualification Authority(NQA) and Dubai Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) attended a meeting with the New Zealand Education Ministry and Career Development Association of New Zealand (CDANZ) to discuss cooperation in qualification management, student exchange programmes, innovation and development. On healthcare sector, representatives of Gulf Pharmaceutical Industries (Julphar), met with the officials of Douglas Pharmaceuticals, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare and Orion health, who said they were looking forward to expand their healthcare operations into the Middle East. the delegation visited the Douglas Pharmaceuticals facilities and were briefed about the processes and applications there. The UAE-New Zealand Economic Forum was held in Auckland, in attendance of business personalities from both countries. the forum saw presentations by a number of investment and tourism organisations. – Emirates News Agency, WAM - http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395293045887.html